Immunization policy and strategies

Successful national immunization programmes depend on up-to-date policies and effective strategies in order to achieve and sustain their goals. When EPI was established 40 years ago, its focus was on vaccinating infants with a limited number of traditional vaccines. Today the vaccine world has changed dramatically.

The development and availability of many new vaccines targeting a variety of age groups, the emergence of new technologies, the increased public focus on vaccine safety issues, the enhanced procedures for regulation and approval of vaccines, the need to expand the immunization schedule with consideration of all age groups and specific at-risk populations, are all demanding increased attention.

Countries need to have strong mechanisms that enable informed decision-making about immunization priorities and the introduction of new programme strategies, vaccines and technologies.